Drive-chain



(No Model.)

W. N. WHITELEY.

DRIVE CHAIN.

Patented Jan 5, 1886.

W gm JJJM WW 3:- ATTORNEY UNITED STATES WILLIAM N. WHITELEY,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

DRIVE-CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent.No. 333,804, dated January5, 1886.

Application filed August 14, 1885. Serial No. 174,371. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N .WHITELEY, of Springfield, in the countyof Clark and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements inDrive-Chains; and I hereby declare that the following is a full andaccurate description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of myinvention. Fig. 2 is aplan of the same. Fig. 3 is an edge elevation.Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the chain in place onasprocket-wheel.

My invention belongs to that class of drive chains which have cast-metallinks capable of being connected or disconnected at will; and it moreparticularly relates. to that class of said chains where the links areof uniform shape and are connected by interposed couplers of differentshape, in contradistinction to that class wherein each link is at oneend provided with a coupler integral with the link.

I am aware that plain cast-metal links have I been heretofore united bycast metal couplers,

and therefore do not claim, broadly, that way of uniting such links. Iam not aware, however, that such couplers have been provided wit-h acentral bearing portion to support the chain upon the sprocket-wheelwithout resting upon the points of the coupling-hooks.

A A are the links of my chain. They are rectangular in form and uniform.The end bars, I) b, are cylindrical, and the side bars may becylindrical or angular in cross-section, as preferred; but at one orboth sides said slide bars are thinned at their points of junction withthe cylindrical end bars, as at d, and to preserve strength the sidebars may be made wider at their thin points, as shown. The couplers Eare also uniform. They are provided at each end with a book, 9, toreceive the cylindrical bar b of the link, and the open slot or space infront of the point of the hook is just sufficient to permit the passageof the thin portion 01 of the link side bar, so that in the well-knownway the links and couplers may be connected; but it is sometimesnecessary that disengagement be prevented, and for that purpose thepoint of the hook is provided with a projecting spur, h, much thinnerthan the book, so that it may be bent up or down without changing thecircular sectional form of the hook. In making molds for casting thesehooks it is necessary to use a chill to produce the requisite uniformityof size and circular section, and convenience makes it desirable to usea plain cylindrical chill, and to raise the spur h before the link canbe entered.

Chains of this description are almost eX- clusively used for thetransmission of power.

They are employed with sprocket-wheels, the

sprockets whereof enter the links of the chain, and thereby preventslipping.

To support the link while passing over the sprocket-wheel withoutresting upon or wearing the points of the books, I provide the coupler Ewith a central projecting portion, i,which is interposed between the endbars. I), of the adjacent links, and thereby separates said end bars andkeeps them in place, and also supports the links as they pass over thesprocket H without resting upon and wearing the points of the hooks.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- A chain constructed ofalternate links and couplers,the couplers having open slots at thepoints of the hooks to admit the end bars, b, of the links A, and eachhook having a spur, h, projecting partly over said .open slot, capableof being closed down without bending the book out of circular form toprevent disengagement, the coupler having also a central portion, 43,projecting upward between the hooks to retain the end bars, b, in theirproper working position, and to support the chain on the sprocket-wheel,substantially as and for.

the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM N. WHITELEY.

\Vitnesses:

SoL J. HoncK, F. B. FUENISS.

